Locum Link

• Five Resolutions for Your Locum Tenens Career

  January 6th, 2012

  Happy New Year! What’s on your list of career resolutions?  If you are a locum tenens physician or are considering locum work, why not resolve to take a few simple steps to prepare for your next opportunity.  Here’s what our recruiters recommend.

  Refresh your CV. If you haven’t reviewed your CV in a while, chances are, it could use updating. See our tips and ensure that you’ve added all of your new skills, licenses and other relevant information since your last update.

   Enhance your skills. CME is a must, and if you’re going to do coursework, focus on classes that improve your skills and marketability. If you’re a hospitalist, consider procedures training. If your specialty demands other skills, make this the year that you get up to date.

  Contact your References. A new job typically means reference checks—so when was the last time you reached out to someone you’re listing as an employment reference? If it’s been a while, a New Year’s greeting is a great excuse to reach out and renew that relationship. Remind the individual that you are still listing them as a professional reference, and consider asking them to write a newly dated reference letter.

  Check-in With Your Recruiter. While you’re doing outreach, renew that relationship with your recruitment professional.  Even if you have worked with a firm in the recent past, a periodic check-in is a good idea. Have your personal circumstances changed? Do you have more or less availability than you have had in the past?  All of this information will help you and your recruiter build a plan to keep you happily employed throughout the year. (See our tips for building strong recruiter relationships).

  Review your Licenses. Up to date licensure info is a must. Do you have yours handy? January is also a good time to get started on new licenses if you seek to move to or work in a new state in the new year. Locum Leaders can help get you started. We’ll often reimburse you for your license costs if you work for our firm in a new state.

  Good luck in 2012! We look forward to hearing from you—and working with you—in the New Year.

  Tags: career, CV, locum tenens, MD recruitment
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter

• Six Tips to Ace Your Phone Interview

  April 4th, 2011

  The phone interview is a critical aspect of the locum tenens hiring process. Remember, the hospital you’re interviewing with already knows a lot about your background from your locum tenens agency, so your phone interview is often the only interview you’ll have with a hiring manager before an offer is extended.

  Talking on the phone sounds easy, right? But a phone interview can be challenging because you’re not face-to-face and aren’t able to gauge the nonverbal cues of the interviewer, such as body language and facial expressions.

  And if you think this is “just a locum interview,” think again. You could be talking with someone who may be in a position to extend you a permanent offer or a facility that could relocate you for your dream job. That’s all the more reason to take the interview seriously and make a good first impression.

  So how do you nail the phone interview and land the job? Here are a few tips.

  Prep with your Recruiter. Before you talk to the hiring hospital, your recruiter can give you important information about the facility, the census, call expectations, dates and shifts, pay rate and other things you’ll want to know about the job. Getting this type of baseline information in advance of your interview can free you up to talk about other aspects of the job and your career with the hiring manager. 

  Do your Homework. In addition to your prep with your recruiter, do your own research on the facility and print out their information for your reference during the interview. Know who is going to interview you and what their role is at the hiring facility. Write down any questions you may have in advance about EMRs or rotation schedules or workplace culture, so you don’t forget to ask about things important to you. 

  Set the Stage. Just before starting your call, find a quiet space without distractions (like barking dogs or crying children). If possible, make the call on a landline. But if you must use your mobile phone, then be sure you’re in an area with good cell phone reception. Have a pen and paper with you to take notes, and keep a printed copy of your CV handy for reference.

  Perk up! Go into your interview with an upbeat attitude. Though it may feel silly, smile while you’re speaking; it really comes across in your voice. Stay positive in your answers as well by avoiding negative comments about previous employers or working situations. Far better to tell a positive anecdote about work and patient care that shows your enthusiasm for being a doctor and your ability to be a team player.

  Stay on Point. Answer questions directly without lapsing into long, drawn out stories or sharing too much personal information. Because it’s a phone interview, you might even keep your eye on a watch or clock to help keep your answers concise. Although you’re the interviewee, it’s okay to ask a few questions of your own. That shows interest and engagement. But keep your questions fair, and avoid being intentionally provocative.

  Follow-Up. A brief, well-written thank you email sent in a timely manner can go a long way in the interview process. It’s another way to show interest and thoroughness.

  Tags: career, interview, locum, phone skills, physician
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter

• Can Locum Tenens Improve My Work-Life Balance?

  June 2nd, 2009

  As a recruiter, I often talk about locum tenens as a way to earn extra pay above and beyond a salaried position.  But for physicians who want to reduce their hours or have greater autonomy over their schedule, locum tenens is an equally viable option.

  A new American Medical Group Association report on physician retention highlights the challenges of striking a work-life balance.  The survey shows that many physicians leave a group practice to move closer to family or to simply reduce their workload. 

  The report adds that women 39 and under are significantly more likely to leave a medical practice than their male counterparts.

  In another recent survey of women in healthcare, only 9% of women rated themselves as “very satisfied” with their work-life balance.  Respondents reported that at least once each week they had to make choices between work and family.

  Becoming a locum tenens physician isn’t a cure-all for work-related stresses, but it does allow you to practice medicine without the worries of managing a practice or chasing reimbursement and other administrative hassles. In addition, consider these benefits:

  • Locum tenens gives you choice and flexibility, allowing you to decide when, where and how often you work.
  • Locum tenens jobs can be close to home or travel assignments. While some doctors associate locums work with relocation or travel, the reality is that many locum tenens providers only accept shifts in their immediate area.
  • Locum work can ease a career transition.  If you want to re-enter the workforce after an extended leave or if you are between full-time positions and don’t want to make a permanent commitment, locum tenens is a great option.

  As a critical care nurse, recruiter and parent, I appreciate the work-life choices that impact your career decisions.  If Locum Leaders can help with your unique situation, don’t hesitate to let us know.

  Tags: career, Locum Leaders, locum tenens, schedule, work-life balance
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter

• Should I consider locum tenens work?

  May 4th, 2009

  Physicians and CRNAs who choose locum tenens work are highly diverse–coming from all specialties and backgrounds.  Their motivations for choosing locum tenens work are equally diverse, but I find that our candidates generally fall into one of the following categories:

  New to the Workforce
  Many healthcare professionals make their first job a locum tenens job.  Some do so because they are reluctant to sign a long-term contract or make a career commitment immediately after residency.  Others may wish to travel or try jobs in different parts of the country to get exposure to regional lifestyles.

  Geography aside, a locum tenens job is also a way to ‘kick the tires’ on different types of practice settings.  New physicians can take short-term positions in small clinics or large corporate health environments as a way to see how their practice style meshes with varied healthcare delivery systems. 

  Career Changers
  Job changes in medicine are more common than ever and physicians and CRNAs often turn to locum tenens while in-between full-time positions. Unanticipated job loss, a move to a new state, or a return to the workforce after a sabbatical are common career change scenarios. Whatever the reason, a locum tenens assignment can help fill a temporary gap between jobs and help ease a career transition.

  Part-Timers
  Locum tenens positions are, by definition, part-time jobs.  However, they are often filled by physicians and CRNAs who are otherwise fully employed.  A common example in the industry is a physician who allots a few weeks of his or her vacation time to locum tenens work. Other full-time physicians may ‘moonlight’ as locum tenens, working during nights or weekends to earn extra income.

  Still other part-timers are retired or semi-retired.  Many locum tenens providers don’t want to work full-time, but like to keep a hand in medicine by taking call, working weekends or accepting periodic travel assignments.  Some parents may also find a more ‘family-friendly’ work schedule as a locum tenens.

  Full-Time Locums
  The last category is made up of physicians and CRNAs who work exclusively as locum tenens providers. These ‘full-time locums’ may work a single long-term assignment or may jump from job to job and state to state during the course of a year. Some enjoy the travel and practice diversity:  the flexibility of choosing when and where they work.  Others like the independence of working as a solo contractor, allowing them to care for patients without the business hassles of running a practice.

  Getting Started
  If you can see yourself in one of the categories above, then take the next step toward pursuing a locum tenens assignment.  Check out physician employment opportunities on general job boards, check our current job openings or drop me an email to discuss your interests and needs.

  Tags: career, CRNA, job, locum tenens, physician, specialty
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter